Advertising display device



April 10, 1934. c. ROBERTS El AL 1,954,459

ADVERTISING DISPLAY DEVICE Filed May 1, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 I H H II "1 April 10, 1934. c. ROBERTS ET AL ADVERTISING DISPLAY DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 1, 1933 I/VV/i/VTORS 'b I I 1"" I April 10, 1934. c ROBERTS r AL 1,954,459

ADVERTISING DISPLAY DEVICE Filed May 1, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet -3 April 10, 1934.

c. ROBERTS E! AL 54,459 ADVERTISING DISPLAY DEVICE Filed May 1, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Apr. 10, 1934 UNITED STATES ADVERTISING DISPLAY DEVICE Charles Roberts and John J. Vertrees, New York, N. Y., assignors to Robert P. Bonnie, Louisville,

Application May 1, 1933, Serial No. 668,798

10 Claims.

This invention relates to an advertising display machine in which a series of advertising cards inserted in metallic frames, two in each frame, and back to back, are shown by the machine serially.

The novel mechanical movement employed discloses a rocking magazine which holds the frames, together with a complete individual withdrawal of each rearmost frame and its rapid inversion through 180 degrees which sequence of movements produces a visible change of cards as viewed from the front of the machine, the actual card displacement of which is quicker in movement than the eye can follow, resulting in an impression of mystery as to its mode of operation.

One of the main objects of this invention is to produce an advertising display for public carriers such as buses and subway trains. In such services where shock and constant vibrations are present, this advertising machine is especially adapted because all of its sequential movements are positive and the metallic frames holding the cards are completely guided in their individual movement, so that vibration or inclination will not affect their normal operations.

Another desirable feature of this invention is the great ease and facility in which the cards in the frames can be removed from the magazine for servicing. Also, it is to be noted that the actual frontal dimensions of the advertising cards in the machine occupy practically the entire full front of the machine.

Another object of our invention is the novel mechanism we employ to operate the advertising machine by a reciprocating air motor actuated by sub-atmospheric pressure, preferably obtained from the manifold of the internal combustion motor of the bus, although our invention may be actuated from any source of power.

Further objects and novel and desirable features of our invention will become apparent from the specifications and claims, and it is to be noted that the drawings of our invention are illustrative only of one particular embodiment.

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of our invention seen from its display front.

Fig, 2 is a sectional view taken on the line A--A of Fig. l and shows more clearly the three operating cams positioned on a single hub or axis together with the magazine with its charge of card holding frames.

Fig. 3 is a section also through AA' but showing the very next sequential movement to that as shown in Fig. 2 in which a lifting finger has elevated the most rearward frame member out of its normal magazine carrying position and just prior to the carrier engaging it to move it forward over the top of the magazine proper as is clearly shown in Fig. 4 where the frame has been dragged for ward to such front position, entirely free from its position as previously occupied in the magazine.

Fig. 5 shows the magazine itself rocked back- :5. ward by its controlling cam and just prior to the receding movement of the carrier which, as is shown in Fig. 5, is at its furthermost forward position. When it now recedes (not shown) it disengages itself from the end of the card frame which it had just carried forward and the frame falls under the force of gravity completing its inversion, and on the readvancement of the magazine the frame and card in question occupies its normal display position in the front of the advertising machine until the cycle is repeated.

Fig. 6 is a plan view in section showing more clearly the three master cams and their respective linkage to the rocking magazine, to the card frame lifter and the card frames forward movement carrier.

Fig. '7 shows in enlarged detail the metallic frame in which the display cards are inserted, back to back.

Fig. 8 shows an end sectional view of the same frame. It is to be noted that the metallic frame protects the card in its movement in and out of the rocking magazine during its individual inversion so that no wear or damage can affect the card proper. 99

Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail of the lifter, just as it engages the card carrying frame to lift it free of the magazine.

Fig. 10 is a sectional assembly in plan and perspective of the air motor at the rear of the machine, showing the single tooth ratchet drum operated by cables, or their equivalent, from the reciprocating air motor.

Fig. 11 shows in detail the snap action air valve at a point Where it is just being positively pushed 100 over its dead point, ready to snap the air valve to its alternate position, as illustrated in Fig. 12.

Fig. 13 shows in enlarged detail an end view of the air motor and the cables operating the ratchet drum which correct the reciprocating movement of the motor to an intermittent one way rotation of the hub carrying the master cams.

Fig. 14 shows in end section the two air cylinders and an end view of the air control valve.

Referring more particularly to the drawings n and starting with Fig. 2 for the purpose of explaining the sequential operation of our invention, the cam assembly, comprising cams 1, 2 and 3 turn in the direction of the arrow, see Fig. 2. We propose to start with the position as shown therein in which 1 is a cam, a roller 17 contacting thereon, and a bell-crank arm 18 fulcrumed on shaft 19, moves the companion arm 20 which in turn actuates link 21 connected by a pin 21-a to arm 15, and is fulcrumed at 15a. At the top of arm 15 is a hook member 22 which at the proper time engages the elongated frame member 32a, see Fig. 7. The fulcrumed shaft 19 extends across the width of the machine sustained by cross members 10-10', and the rod l6a likewise extending across the machine actuates the companion member l5-a, both of which move in unison the hooks 22 and 22-a respectively. See Fig. 1.

The next movement in the machine is illustrated in Fig. 3 where in the cam 2 on being rotated by the source of power utilized to operate the advertising machine, actuates shaft 23 through roller 24 and bell-crank arm 25, shaft 23 also extends across the machine sustained by members 1010 and thus moves companion arm 26. These arms 26 are connected by links 27 to the companion lifts 16 on each side of the magazine and which are secured to the sides of the magazine 4 by guide straps 28. These lifts 16 push up one frame member at the back of the magazine, as is clearly illustrated in Fig. 3.

It will be noted at this point in the description that the center of articulation of links 27 and arms 26 is at fulcrum rod 29 which is the axis of the center of the hinges 6 and 7 on which the magazine 4 rocks so that when the magazine inclines as in Fig. 5, the entire system of links and the magazine fold up without jamming.

Cam 3 shown as a box cam with roller 9 sliding in the cam slot 13 controls the inclination of the magazine 4 which is hinged to base 5 by the hinges 6 and 7, see Fig. 6, and operates through the lever 9a and the link 8, lever 9a being fulcrumed at 11 and supported in the frame 10.

The sequence of operation is clearly traced through Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5 in the following manner. As the journal 34, see Fig. 2, carrying cams 1, 2 and 3, is turned on hearing 35, starting with the position of the machine as indicated in Fig. 2, the first cam to move into action is cam l which pushes back lever 25 and raises the lifter 16 which picks up the rearmost card frame 32a at the back of the machine, as is shown in Fig. 3. Cam 2 then comes into action and the carrier 15 by means of hooks 22 and 22a brings the top of the card just elevated, forward to the front of the machine, as is clearly seen in Fig. 4, cam 3 controlling the inclination of the magazine 4, then brings the magazine into the reclined position shown in Fig. 5. The frame with cards in question slides along on the top of the magazine as the magazine is inclined rearward. Cam 2 then comes back into action and permits the hooks 22 and 22-41 to recede backward by means of the depression 30 in cam 2, see Fig. 5, and the released end of the frame 32 falls back and down by gravity into the magazine 4. Its downward movement is limited and controlled when its now upper edge hits the protruding corner stop member 4a of magazine 4, see Fig. 5. The frame in question is now inverted and in the front side of the magazine and in display position. This series and sequence of actions are repeated showing the pictures serially on one side and then alternately showing the pictures in series on the other side of each of the respective frames, it being noted that the two pictures or cards inserted in each frame are inserted back to back therein and are also inverted in respect to one and the other in each frame. Number 37 represents the glass front or window equivalent of the machine.

The actuating motor as shown in our invention is an air motor with cylinders 40 and 41, see Fig. 10, having pistons 43 and 44 respectively therein.

-A source of vacuum obtained by any means is indicated at port 58 entering the valve housing 68 in which the conventional dumbbell form of piston slide valve, as is indicated by numerals 55, 56 and 57, with valve stem 54. Ports 69 and 70 are connected to cylinders 40 and 41 by pipes 59 and 60. On the valve stem 54 is a V shaped cam 53. A roller 52 contacts with this cam face held under resilient tension by the spring 71 on the bellcrank arms 51 which bell-crank is pivoted in the cross head 50 secured to the slide rod 49. Cross yokes 47 and 48 link the slide rod 49 to the stops 46 and 45 respectively which contact with the pistons 44 and 43 at and near the termination of their normal strokes. As piston 43 nears the end of its stroke, see Fig. 19, the stop 45 by contact with same moves the roller over the apex 72 of V cam 53 and the spring tension reacting against the inclined face of the V shaped cam produces a snap-action to move the valve into the position as 43 to advance to the other end of the cylinder 40.

The cable 61 is attached to each of the pistons 43 and 44 and passes over pulleys 63 and is wound around the one tooth 77 ratchet drum 64 and secured thereon at 65.

The piston 44 is likewise pulled to the other end of cylinder 41 where it contacts with the stop 46 operating through the agency of the snap-action cam thrown valve. In this manner the reciprocating motion of the air motor operates the shaft 35 on which the master cams of the advertising machine are mounted, turning the cams in proper sequence and interval of time. This motor mechanism is very sensitive operating the entire machine even by suction of the mouth.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In an advertising display device, in combination, a magazine holding a plurality of advertising cards, means for lifting the top of the rearmost card above said magazine and means for advancing said top of said card towards the front of said magazine and means for inclining said magazine back of the top of said elevated card and means for dropping the top of said card thus elevated to the bottom and into the front end of said magazine.

2. In an advertising display device comprising a magazine containing a plurality of advertising cards, means to elevate the rearmost card therein and hooking means to engage the top of said elevated card and pull the top of said card over the top of said'magazine and means to incline said magazine to the rear of said device while the top of said card is stationary and unhooking means to drop the top of said elevated card down into the bottom of the front of said magazine.

3. In an advertising display apparatus comprising an inclinable magazine, said magazine holding a plurality of advertising cards, means for elevating the rearmost card held in said magazine and means for advancing said elevated card forward over said magazine and means to incline said magazine to the rear of said elevated card and means to drop said elevated card back into the front of said magazine in an inverted position therein.

4. In an advertising display apparatus comprising an inclinable magazine, said magazine holding a plurality of frames, each frame containing an advertising card, means for elevating the rearmost frame held in said magazine and means for advancing said elevated frame forward over said magazine and means to incline said magazine to the rear of said elevated frame and means to drop said elevated frame back into the front of said magazine in an inverted position therein.

5. In an advertising display apparatus comprising an inclinable magazine, said magazine holding a plurality of frames, each of said frames containing two advertising cards placed back to back therein, means for elevating the rearmost frame held in said magazine and means for advancing said elevated frame forward over said magazine and means to incline said magazine to the rear of said elevated frame and means to drop the top of said elevated frame back into the front of said magazine in an inverted position therein.

6. In an advertising display device comprising a magazine, said magazine containing a plurality of frames, each of said frames holding two advertising cards, the one card inverted and back to back in respect to the other card therein, means for elevating said rearmost frame in said magazine and means to invert said frame while in said elevated position and means to incline said magazine to the rear of said inverted card and means to drop said inverted card back into the foremost part of said magazine.

7. In an advertising display device comprising a magazine, said magazine containing a plurality of frames, means for elevating said rearmost frame in said magazine and means to invert said frame while in said elevated position and means to incline said magazine to the rear of said inverted frame and means to drop said inverted frame back into the foremost part of said magazine.

8. In an advertising display machine having a display window and comprising a magazine, means for oscillating said magazine into a forward and into a rearward position in respect to said window, said magazine containing a plurality of frames and each frame containing an advertising card and means while said magazine occupies its forward position to elevate the rearmost frame contained in said magazine and means coincident with the moving of said magazine to its rearmost position to invert said frame and means to receive said inverted frame in the front of said magazine opposite said display window.

9. In an advertising display machine having a display window and comprising a magazine, means for oscillating said magazine into a forward and into a rearward position in respect to said window, a plurality of frames contained in said magazine, each frame holding two advertising cards back to back therein and means while said magazine occupies its forward position to elevate the rearmost frame contained in said magazine and means coincident with the moving of said magazine into its rearmost position to invert said frame and means to receive said inverted frame in the front of said magazine opposite said display window.

10. In an advertising machine having a display window therein and comprising a magazine containing a plurality of advertising cards, means for oscillating said magazine into a forward and into a rearward position in respect to said window and means while said magazine occupies its forward position to elevate the rearmost card in said magazine and means to advance the top of said card above the magazine towards said display window and means to oscillate said magazine into its rearward position and means to release the top of said elevated card and receiving means in the front of said magazine to receive the card in an inverted position opposite said display window.

CHARLES ROBERTS. JNO. J. VERTREES. 

